Resume McHenry County Updates for this week!

DCEO announces $15M second round of tourism grants

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has opened eligibility for a second round of Tourism Attractions and Festivals grants.

The grant program is designed to help develop new tourism attractions or enhance existing ones, including but not limited to events, performances, festivals, museums and historical sites. Businesses, nonprofits, local governments and local promotion groups are eligible.

Awards range from $15,000 to $500,000 of the $15 million total allocation. Matching funds are not required of nonprofits or local governments, but preference will be given to applicants available to provide them. Businesses require a 75 percent match.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 23. Click here for more information and to access the necessary application documents.

County government wins PR award for COVID campaign

McHenry County government has won a prestigious award for a digital marketing campaign to get teenagers vaccinated against COVID-19.

The county, and Chicago-based public relations firm Public Communications Inc., received a 2022 Skyline Award for Best Digital Marketing from the Chicago chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

The society granted the award for the county/PCI digital advertising campaign, called “No More Missing Out,” to get eligible school-age children vaccinated to facilitate their return to full-time, in-person education.

You can find a sample of the campaign on the county’s official Facebook page by clicking here.

Familiar faces take the helm of Workforce Network leadership

The McHenry County Workforce Network is in good hands under new, but familiar, leadership.

Jeffery Poynter has been named the new director of the Workforce Network; he succeeds Julie Courtney, who retired last week after 16 years leading the organization.

Poynter has worked for the Workforce Network for 13 years, 11 of them as director of the network’s board. Jake Rohn, who has worked there for six years, has been promoted to succeed Poynter as board director.

The Workforce Network, and its job training and placement programs, is an integral part of Resume McHenry County’s mission. Congratulations, Jeff and Jake, and good luck!

Whether you are a job seeker looking to improve your skills, or an employer looking for good people, be sure to contact the McHenry County Workforce Network to inquire about the multitude of free services it offers.

Water Forum scheduled for Aug. 31

McHenry County is inviting you to learn more about McHenry County’s water supply, and the need to protect it.

Residents, businesses and policymakers are invited to attend the fifth annual McHenry County Water Forum, which will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the McHenry County College Luecht Auditorium, 8900 Route 31, Crystal Lake.

Water is essential for life and livability, but few people understand where McHenry County’s water comes from, or the risks to its quality and sustainability. The annual forum is a festive event where the public can learn about the county’s water supply, and what people and government can do to ensure its cleanliness and sustainability for future generations.

You can learn more about the free event by clicking here.

Health Department seeking feedback on ordinance changes

The McHenry County Department of Health is seeking public input on proposed revisions to the county Public Health Ordinance.

You can find a complete list of proposed changes by visiting https://bit.ly/MCDHDraft. Each section has a dedicated point-of-contact email to offer feedback.

Health officials will be holding a number of public review meetings, the schedule for which can be found at the website.

The proposed changes will be put on 30-day review with the County Board on Oct. 13, with a vote scheduled for the Nov. 15 monthly meeting.

Enjoy National Farmers Market Week

Happy National Farmers Market Week! What better way to celebrate it than by visiting McHenry County’s wonderful and award-winning farmers markets?

As always, our friends at Naturally McHenry County have compiled a handy list, which you can find by clicking here. You can find a number of markets and u-pick farms for fun family visits.

Summer market season will be over before you know it, so don’t miss out! And don’t worry if you do, because a number of our markets hold monthly indoor events through the winter months.

We weren’t exaggerating about the awards – McHenry County is home to several nationally recognized markets. The American Farmland Trust has named the Woodstock Farmers Market, and the Farmers Market+ at the Dole in Crystal Lake, as two of the top five farmers’ markets in the entire Midwest.